Cell Line

DNA methylation (DNAm) levels lend themselves for defining an epigenetic biomarker of aging known as the 'epigenetic clock'. Our genome-wide association study (GWAS) of cerebellar epigenetic age acceleration identifies five significant (P<5.0 ◊ 10(-8)) SNPs in two loci: 2p22.1 (inside gene DHX57) and 16p13.3 near gene MLST8 (a subunit of mTOR complex 1 and 2). We find that the SNP in 16p13.3 has a cis-acting effect on the expression levels of MLST8 (P=6.9 ◊ 10(-18)) in most brain regions. In cerebellar samples, the SNP in 2p22.1 has a cis-effect on DHX57 (P=4.4 ◊ 10(-5)).

In November 1998 biologists announced that they had discovered a way to isolate and preserve human stem cells. Since stem cells are capable of developing into any kind of human tissue or organ, this was a great scientific coup. Researchers envision using the cells to replace damaged organs and to restore tissue destroyed by, for example, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, or even Alzheimer's. But, since stem cells are taken from aborted embryonic and fetal tissue or "leftover" in vitro embryos, their use raises large ethical issues.

The author presents an overview (completed on September 15, 2001) of three issues involved in the ethics of human embryonic stem cell therapy: the ethical implications of some of the scientific issues involved, the specific ethical issues of the moral standing of the early human embryo and the problem of cooperation, and a consideration of two public policy issues: should the research go forward, and what kind of health care system should the United States adopt. The author argues that the public policy questions are the most important agenda.

It is truly a great honor to be the 1994 recipient of the Berthold Memorial Award from the German Endocrine Society which met in W¸rzburg, March 2-5. I am especially indebted to Drs. Kˆhrle and Wuttke for their kindness in making our visit to W¸rzburg so enjoyable and educational. Professor Berthold was the first to demonstrate the effects of a hormone on phenotypic expression when he transplanted testes to a castrated rooster, restoring its masculine appearance and behavior (Figure 1) (Berthold, 1849). Since 1960, when I joined the laboratory of the late Dr. Sidney H.

It is truly a great honor to be the 1994 recipient of the Berthold Memorial Award from the German Endocrine Society which met in W¸rzburg, March 2-5. I am especially indebted to Drs. Kˆhrle and Wuttke for their kindness in making our visit to W¸rzburg so enjoyable and educational. Professor Berthold was the first to demonstrate the effects of a hormone on phenotypic expression when he transplanted testes to a castrated rooster, restoring its masculine appearance and behavior (Figure 1) (Berthold, 1849). Since 1960, when I joined the laboratory of the late Dr. Sidney H.

The fact that certain vaccines are grown in cell strains derived decades ago from an aborted fetus is a concern for some. To understand such concerns, a standardized search identified internet sites discussing vaccines and abortion. Ethical concerns raised include autonomy, conscience, coherence, and immoral material complicity. Two strategies to analyse moral complicity show that vaccination is ethical: the abortions were past events separated in time, agency, and purpose from vaccine production. Rubella disease during pregnancy results in many miscarriages and malformations.

Volatile anesthetics are used clinically to produce analgesia, amnesia, unconsciousness, blunted autonomic responsiveness, and immobility. Previous work has shown that the volatile anesthetic isoflurane, at concentrations that produce unconsciousness (250-500 microM), enhances fast synaptic inhibition in the brain mediated by GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)-Rs). In addition, isoflurane causes sedation at concentrations lower than those required to produce unconsciousness or analgesia.

Immunoregulatory properties of a novel antimalarial drug dihydroartemisinin (DHA) were investigated in vitro. DHA 0.5-5 mumol.L-1 enhanced the lymphocyte proliferation induced by Con A. Interleukin 2 (IL-2) production and its mRNA expression by both Con A-stimulated mouse splenocytes and a T cell line LBRM-33-1A5 were also augmented by DHA. In contrast, DHA 0.5-5 mumol.L-1 did not show any effect on the lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced lymphocyte proliferation and the spontaneous and mitogen-induced proliferation of transformed T cells.

AIMS: The study aimed to identify the specific human cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes involved in the metabolism of artemisinin. METHODS: Microsomes from human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines transformed with individual CYP450 cDNAs were investigated for their capacity to metabolize artemisinin. The effect on artemisinin metabolism in human liver microsomes by chemical inhibitors selective for individual forms of CYP450 was investigated.

The effect of artesunate and its metabolite dihydroartemisinin against the cerebral cysts of Toxoplasma gondii was studied. In vitro experiments were performed with the THP-1 cell line and showed an inhibition of parasite growth of approximately 70% with 0.1-0.5 microg/ml of dihydroartemisinin for 96 hr. However, with artesunate, dihydroartemisinin, or a combination (50:50) of them, the number of tachyzoites decreased approximately 40-50% and they appeared motionless. Fifty-eight to 72 hr after washing of the tachyzoites and THP-1 cells in culture, parasitized cells reappeared.